Souring agent for laundrying and cleaning and process of using the same.



252. COMPOSITIONS.

UNITED STATES PATENT onFIoE.

WALTER F. ELWOOD, OF GBEENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOURING AGENT FOR LAUNDRYING AND CLEANING AND PROCESS OF USING THE SAME.

1,186,300. Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER F. ELwooD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Greensburg, in the county ofWestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Souring Agents for Laundrying and Cleaning andProcesses of Using the Same, of which the following is a specification.V

My invention relates to an improvement in the art of cleansing fabrics,laundrying, etc., and consists of an improved process of making andusing a souring and clearing agent.

Heretofore, and at the present time, it has been desirable to produce asuitable compound or material which would successfully answer andprovide for the souring requirements of laundrying and other cleaningoperations, and one of the most common materials used has been oxalicacid- Such acid, however, being a satisfied free acid, has a verydestructive effect on the fabrics and mechanical devices utilized inlaundry operations, while being at the same time uncertain in itsalfinities toward other necessary elements. Oxalic acid has been so usedto remove objectionable stains, such as grease stains resulting fromperspiration, rust, fruit stains, ordinary grease, and all other organicstains, it being desirable at the same time to leave the fabrics, beingwashed, in such a condition as to freely take and hold the bluing, whenbluing processes are utilized, and to properly clarify the fabrics.However, detrimental results from the use of oxalic acid as a souringagent manifest themselves in that the bath becomes very easilyovercharged, resulting in the failure of the operator to successfullyrid or cleanse the fabrics of the excess of harmful acid, thus forminginsoluble oxalates, which in turn tend to load the fabrics and cause acharring of combined fats on the fabrics. This in turn has a tendency toproduce harsh and yellow fabrics.

The correct theory of successful souring lies in the fact that after thegarments or fabrics have passed the washing process proper all remainingorganic matters, odors and stains should be eliminated by the sourPatented June 6, 1916.

Application filed December 7, 1915. Serial No. 65,525.

ing process. Also, the action on the fabrics must be such that when theyare passed through the bluing process, the results of such operationmust be apparent and eflicient, in that the bluing must be uniformly andproperly set, regardless of the composition of the bluing.

It is a well-known fact that the largest proportion of commonly usedblues requires a uniform souring action, as, for instance, tri-phenylpara-rosanilin and tri-phenyl rosanilin blues respectively. Also, itwill be noted that in the hydroxyls of such blues, they exhibit a slightacid reaction, and will necessitate the furthering of such originalaction for their proper setting. In my improved souring agent, which isknown as Trioxidol, I use for the above mentioned purpose, and forproducing the desired souring results, a sulfite and sulfate acidreacting salt, either in the pure state,

or compounded with such elements as may be necessary to both stabilizeand hold, in a de-hydrated condition, such sulfites and sulfates.

The acid sulfites and sulfates (i. e., bi-sulfites and bi-sulfates whichI use, are acid sodium sulfite or sulfate, or acid potassium sulfite orsulfate, either in pure or commercial dry form, as follows: Acid sodiumsulfite, NaHSO or bi-sulfite; acid sodium sulfate, NaHSO,, orbi-sulfate; acid potassium sulfite, KI'ISO or bi-sulfite; acid potassiumsulfate, KHSO or bi-sulfate. These salts are stabilized by a suitablede-hydrating process, at which time an addition is made of hydrogenmagnesium silicate,

I-I Mg (SiO,) and a silicon oxid, SiO and.

ing bath during a further time of about eight minutes, after which thecontents should be given a hot and cold rinse.

The proportions of the material as given above may be somewhat varied,depending upon the condition of the fabrics to be washed, the characterof the water being used, or other local conditions, and I do not desireto be limited to the exact proportions designated.

The advantages of the invention arise from the harmless character of thechemicals used and the avoidance of any destructive action on thefabrics, while greatly facilitating and improving the usual methods nowemployed.

Trioxidol bein of a bisulfate or bisulfite base destroys allobjectionable alkali and fatty odors and clears the fabrics morethoroughly and efliciently than oxalic acid and does not inciteharshness. It is highly conducive to uniform and satisfactory bluing andgreatly reduces the quantity of blue necessary for the bluing process.It results in a more uniform color than can be produced with oxalicacid, and successfully and effectually removes all rust or foreignmatter or perspiration stains commonly occurring in collars, cufls,etc., resulting from greasy excretions from the pores.

What I claim is:

1. A souring agent consisting of a sulfate acid reacting salt and astabilizing agent.

2. A souring agent consisting of a sulfate acid reacting salt and sodiumsilicate.

3. The improvement in the art of cleansing fabrics, consisting inbringing such fabrics having iron stains, grease, and various otherobjectionable stains thereon .into contact with a solution of watersoluble oxygen compound of sulfur having an acid reaction.

4. The improvement in the art of cleansing fabrics consisting in thebringing of such fabrics, having iron stains, grease, berry stains andvarious other objectionable stains of mineral and organic base thereon,into contact with a solution of a water soluble compound, such compoundembracing a sulfate acid reacting salt with a stabilizing agent.

In. testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

WALTER F. ELWOOD. Witnesses:

W. A. HECKMAN, O. M. CLARKE.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. I

